Learning to Scuba Dive

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Finding a Scuba Diving Course

There are two main ways into-scuba diving in the UK, either via a scuba diving club or a school. Both will offer a try-diving session so you will be able to see if you would like to take a course to become a qualified scuba-diver. Most large towns in the UK will have a dive club and/or a school.

Dive clubs typically teach you over several months, with weekly theory and pool sessions. You will pay an annual membership fee to join the club and that will give you access to training and club equipment. Clubs will also have a range of organised dive trips throughout the year and provide an instant circle of “dive-buddies” with whom to gain experience and have fun.

Dive schools can qualify you as a diver in 4-5 days. It is intense, but you will be immersed in every sense. Many dive schools also have clubs associated with them that organise regular diving for its members. a basic qualification equips you to dive safely to around 20m depth. For this you will have to complete a number of theory sessions (either in a classroom with an instructor or online), about 5 pool sessions and 4-5 open water dives in the sea or a lake.

You can do all this in the UK or abroad or do the theory and pool sessions in the UK and get a “referral” to complete the open water dives overseas saving vital holiday time.

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Dive Training Agencies

There are several training agencies for scuba diving whos courses and qualifications are recognised throughout the world. Different dive clubs and schools use different training agencies, so please check their websites for more information.

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On Your Scuba Diving Course

Theory

You will learn about life underwater including; depth, pressure effects, how your equipment works and hand signals for communicating underwater.

Pool Sessions

You will learn the basic skills of scuba-diving and what to do if you encounter a problem under the water.

Open Water

You will take the skills and knowledge you learned in the theory and pool sessions and practise them in the open water.

Getting your qualification

Once you have completed all of these sessions to a safe level you will be awarded your first scuba-diving qualification – and that’s where the fun really begins.

 

Now I'm qualified, what's next? - Go diving!

Speak to your school or dive-club about upcoming trips in the UK or abroad. They will be able to advise you on what would be suitable for a beginner.



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UK Diving

Enjoy shore-diving – you’ll be surprised how much there is to see. Then join the dive-boats and explore some of the shallower shipwrecks, such as HMS Scylla off Plymouth. If you get into wrecks, you won’t have far to go to find some of the world’s best in the world, such as at Scapa Flow. Prefer hanging out with marine life? Try diving with seals off Lundy Island or the Farnes.

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Budget Airlines

Budget airlines can fly you to warmer-water locations in a few hours. The Mediterranean’s best-known diving islands are Malta and Cyprus, but many places including Spain and the Greek islands have dive-centres geared to beginners and with English-speaking staff.

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Further Away

The Red Sea has long been British divers’ favourite destination. The climate is predictable and the waters full of colourful life. Package prices are very reasonable to Egypt or other destinations such as Jordan. A similar flying distance and with good diving conditions year- round are Atlantic islands such as the Canaries and Azores. Or try exciting coldwater diving in Norway or Iceland!

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Long Haul

The Maldives in the Indian Ocean are British divers’ second-favourite warmwater location, a place for big animals such as sharks and rays. Caribbean islands offer further possibilities. Many such as Grenada, Tobago and St Lucia offer direct flights and easy diving with lots to see. Parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand in SE Asia are loved by divers for their incredible biodiversity – and if you’re ready to travel as far as Australia and the Pacific you’ll find diving the hotspots there hard to beat.

© SITA - Scuba Industries Trade Association - 2016

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